Waukesha County

Butler police chief retires amid probe

The Butler village administrator said Tuesday he was surprised when Police Chief Michael Cosgrove turned in his retirement letter.

The retirement announcement comes in the middle of a review of the police department's management by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. Cosgrove submitted the letter last week, stating he would retire effective Sunday. The review is not criminal in nature, administrator Jesse Thyes said.

"We did have questions raised regarding managerial inefficiencies and the administration of departmental operations," Thyes said.

The sheriff's office was contacted to conduct the review because it is "an outside, non-biased entity" and it is a law enforcement agency, so it understands police department hierarchies and policies, Thyes said.

Cosgrove was placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 20 to avoid any potential for conflict of interest during the review, the administrator said.

Cosgrove is eligible for retirement and has 33 years of service in Butler, serving as chief since 2005. Lt. David Wentlandt is overseeing the department until a permanent chief is hired. The village board will meet Tuesday to begin discussions on filling the vacancy.

"I wish (Cosgrove) the best moving forward. He served the village for a good, long time," Thyes said.

The Journal Sentinel has been unable to reach Cosgrove for comment. In his brief retirement letter, Cosgrove requests his five-week vacation and applicable holidays be paid out bi-weekly until exhausted and asks to stay on the village's health insurance and to use his termination benefits to make payments for the insurance.